unworthy

adjective un·wor·thy \ ˌən-ˈwər-t͟hē \

Definition of unworthy

1 a :lacking in excellence or value :poor, worthless

b :base, dishonorable

2 :not meritorious :undeserving

unworthy of attention

3 :not deserved :unmerited

unworthy treatment

4 :inappropriate to one's condition or station

actions unworthy of a gentleman

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unworthily

play \ˌən-ˈwər-t͟hə-lē\ adverb

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unworthiness

play \ˌən-ˈwər-t͟hē-nəs\ noun

See unworthy defined for English-language learners

See unworthy defined for kids

Recent Examples of unworthy from the Web

Kidnap taps into another common (though less-dire) fear that many parents experience: that the world sees them as unworthy in their parenting skills.

— ben sachs, Chicago Reader, "Film / Transportation The Halle Berry thriller Kidnap is the stuff of (bad) dreams," 10 Aug. 2017
This is an unfortunate accusation, but we are forced to elect unworthy people to office.

— Cincinnati.com, "Column: Politics then and now," 9 Aug. 2017
Then they both got sent home for being unworthy of anyone’s attention or time.

— melissa locker, Time, "The Bachelorette: Rachel Lindsay Faces 15 of Her Exes When The Men Tell All," 1 Aug. 2017
Saban is Neidermeyer, the Omega House is the Power Five and everybody else might as well be Jugdish U. Saban thinks all Group of Five schools were created equal, as in equally unworthy.

— david whitley, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Nick Saban's hopes would kill AAC dreams," 28 July 2017
With Aleix Vidal proving unworthy, and stand-in right back Sergi Roberto more comfortable in the centre of midfield, Barca were dead set on signing a new full-back this summer.

— SI.com, "In-Demand Arsenal Youngster Puts an End to Transfer Speculation With Latest Instagram Post," 21 July 2017
For everyone else—like the transit workers Rahm deemed unworthy of mentioning—

— ben joravsky, Chicago Reader, "Mayor Rahm will gladly take all the credit even if someone else does the work," 19 July 2017
There's the unknowable, and then there's the not-worth-knowing, and both may seem to be unworthy of the chase.

— Philly.com, "Horoscopes: Wednesday, July 5, 2017," 5 July 2017
The insults lobbed at both are unworthy of the president of the United States.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Trump: Burned when fighting fire with fire," 1 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unworthy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of unworthy

13th century

UNWORTHY Defined for English Language Learners

unworthy

adjective

Definition of unworthy for English Language Learners

: not good enough to deserve something or someone : not worthy
: not appropriate or acceptable for a good or respected person

UNWORTHY Defined for Kids

unworthy

adjective un·wor·thy \ ˌən-ˈwər-t͟hē \

Definition of unworthy for Students

unworthier; unworthiest

1 :not deserving someone or something

He's unworthy of such praise.

2 :not appropriate for a particular kind of person or thing

That behavior is unworthy of you.

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unworthiness

\-t͟hē-nəs\ noun

Law Dictionary

unworthy

adjective un·wor·thy

legal Definition of unworthy

:not meritorious; specifically, in the civil law of Louisiana :being or relating to an heir who is deprived of the right to inherit from a person because of a failure in a duty towards the person

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